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ITV Report

16 November 2012 at 6:29pm

From fan to opponent: Danny Graham hoping to face his boyhood club

Swansea City forward Danny Graham is hoping to face his boyhood club Newcastle United on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has been a Magpies supporter since he was young and was a regular visitor to St James' Park whilst growing up. Despite being from Gateshead, he's never played for the Magpies. But he could line-up against them for the Swans in tomorrow's Premier League match.

Speaking ahead of the game, Graham said: " To be standing there as a Newcastle fan all those years ago, and to have the possibility of walking out in front of that crowd, and stadium. It could be special."

Danny comes from a family of Newcastle supporters, and says they'll all be in the stadium on Saturday, but they won't be cheering him on.

"All the family are in the Newcastle end," he said. "They'll be there cheering on Newcastle for this game, but if we lose I probably won't speak to them for a couple of days. I'll turn my phone off and speak to them later on next week."

Graham began his career with Newcastle's north east rivals Middlesbrough, and also had spells with Darlington and Carlisle United. He has fond memories of all three clubs, and says he owes them a great debt.

He said: "Middlesbrough gave me the chance to play professional football, and I had to work my way through the leagues and come back via Carlisle and Watford. A lot of great memories and that's just been the catalyst of the player I am today, and where I am."

Since leaving Boro, Danny has played at every level of the Football League. He said there was a period where he'd almost given up on hopes of getting back into the Premier League, until he earned promotion from the Championship with Swansea in 2011.

He said: "Obviously leaving a Premier League club, and going to a League One club, there were times you think 'are you ever going to get back there?'

"But you've got to have a little bit of luck along the way, and Swansea came in and took the chance on me."

Danny hasn't started any of Swansea's last four matches. However, he could be reinstated into Michael Laudrup's starting eleven after South Korean international Ki Sung Yeung suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw with Southampton.